Ottawa installing signs to celebrate ‘Irish Village,’ anniversaries of Bytown and ByWard Market

Coun. Tim Tierney says he will introduce a motion to declare a section of the ByWard Market the '"Irish Village." (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa)

New signs will be installed in Ottawa’s ByWard Market to dedicate the area as the ‘Irish Village’ and to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Bytown and the 200th anniversary of the market over the next three years.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee approved a motion from councillors Tim Tierney and Catherine Kitts on a plan to install commemorative street sign blades in the tourist area.

Staff will work with the Irish Society of the National Capital Region to install street sign blades to recognize the historical significance of the Irish diaspora in Lowertown.

“When Council approved the Heritage Conservation District Plan for Lowertown and ByWard, there was a recommendation to install commemorative blades throughout the two districts,” Court Curry, Ottawa’s manager of Right of Way, Heritage and Urban Design Services, told the committee. “The Irish Society of Ottawa approached us about recognizing the Irish community within ByWard and Lowertown. However, as we know, there are many cultures and histories beyond Irish and so staff are proposing to embark upon a project that is multi-year.”

• ‘Irish Village’ to be dedicated in Ottawa’s ByWard Market

The ‘Irish Village’ signs will be installed in an area including Parent Street from Clarence Street to St. Patrick Street and St. Patrick from Sussex Drive to King Edward Avenue.

Curry said staff plan to commemorate the 200th anniversary celebrations in Bytown in 2026 and the 200th anniversary of the ByWard Market in 2027 with sign blades on city streets.

The motion notes the 200th anniversaries of both Bytown and the ByWard Market “provides an opportunity for greater recognition of our city’s evolution.”

“The Lowertown Community Association has expressed interest in a broader commemorative street sign blade project as a new opportunity for interpreting the rich history of Ottawa’s oldest neighbourhood,” staff say.